Tag Archives: National Bike Week

A LOCAL primary school is one of Ireland’s two Park ‘n’ Stride Schools of the Year.  At a ceremony in Dublin Zoo during National Bike Week ‘22, Knockanean National School were named Ireland’s Park ‘n’ Stride Primary School of the Year by the Green-Schools Programme, following their participation in the programme’s Big Travel Challenge in February. Nine schools were awarded at the ceremony and named as Cycling, Walking, Scooting and Park ‘n’ Stride Schools of the Year. Gort Community School in Galway was named Ireland’s Travel School of the Year at the ceremony. During February schools undertook the Green-Schools Big Travel Challenge – now in its seventh year – which asked them to concentrate on one sustainable transport mode for two weeks to see if they could achieve real, lasting change in the travel behaviour of their staff and students. The Challenge is an initiative of Green-Schools Travel, which is supported by the NTA and the Department of Transport, Tourism …

Last Wednesday, to celebrate National Bike Week, almost 700 children from Ennis and surrounds, along with 100 adults, took part in a 3km cycle around Ennis to promote the benefits of cycling to school. Starting from behind the Fire Station on new road, the peleton took a tour around the town, taking over the streets for almost an hour. At the finish at The Fair Green, the children were organised into groups to make up a giant   ‘1.5’ on the playing field to remind motorists to leave at least 1.5m space around cyclists on the road.                    

As part of National Bike Week, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has unveiled a series of online videos aimed at promoting awareness and safety among cyclists and other road-users. Using new technology to give viewers a 360 degree look at dangerous driving from a cyclist’s point of view, the videos allow the users to ‘look around’ and experience the dangers for themselves. The videos focus on the high risk behaviours that put vulnerable cyclists in danger, such as drivers not allowing enough space when overtaking, opening a car door without checking, or making a left turn when a cyclist is approaching. As the viewer changes their viewpoint, they can look at the action from another angle, see the dangers and risks of dangerous driving behaviour, and experience the shock that comes with them. Moyagh Murdock, chief executive, Road Safety Authority said, “Cyclists are among our most vulnerable road-users, yet many drivers do not demonstrate enough caution and awareness when sharing …

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and An Garda Síochána have teamed up to highlight the increase in bike related crime. It’s an initiative in support of National Bike Week. Over the last 10 years, the level of bike theft has increased by 227%, with approximately 6,750 reported bicycle thefts in 2014, equating to a monetary loss in the region of €4million. To end May 2015 there have been in excess of 2,100 reported bike thefts nationally, with in excess of 1,600 (76%) reported in the Dublin Region. Only 10% of bike owners are able to provide gardaí with the bicycle frame number In 2014, 34% of all thefts were reported in Dublin City Centre, 40% in the rest of the Dublin Metropolitan Region and 26% outside of the Dublin Metropolitan Region. Twice as many bikes are stolen during the summer months, peaking in July, August and September. Two Thirds of bikes are stolen from public places; the most …

RENOWNED Irish singer, Luka Bloom and world champion surfer, Fergal Smith, both avid cyclists, will be in Ennistymon this Friday afternoon to launch National Bike Week 2014. Funded and co-ordinated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Bike Week has some 400 cycling events nationwide and runs from June 14 through to June 22. Supported locally by Clare local authorities, Clare Local Sports Partnership and the An Taisce Green-Schools Travel Programme, the annual initiative features a range of events for all ages including family fun cycles, cycle to work and school events and bike fixing workshops. The launch event will take place at 1.30pm when over 100 children, parents and staff of Mol An Óige in Ennistymon will gather on their bicycles alongside Luka Bloom and Fergal Smith. The cyclists will meet at Ennistymon church car park at 1.30pm where they will cycle to and from Lahinch along the 4 kilometre Ennistymon–Lahinch Cycleway. Jane Hackett, National Coordinator of Green-Schools …